Shooting Skills: Proper Finger Positioning on Trigger

Our friend Kirsten Joy Weiss has just released a useful video that shows how to refine your trigger control for better accuracy. In this video, Kirsten talks about the actual placement of a shooter’s index finger on the trigger. It is important to have the finger positioned optimally. Otherwise you can pull the shot slightly left or slightly right.

Kirsten tells us: “Finger placement on the trigger might not seem like a big deal, but it actually is. The reason for this is because, depending on where your index finger is placed on the trigger, [this] translates to different muscle interactions with the gun.” Watch this video to see Kirsten demonstrate proper finger placement (and explain problems caused by improper finger positioning).

Here Kirsten Illustrates how the index finger should be aligned along the face of the trigger shoe.

When you pull the trigger, you only want to engage the last section of your finger, in order to avoid unwanted muscle engagement and to achieve a smooth shot.

Remember there is a “sweet spot” between the crease (first joint) and the tip of the finger. If you position the trigger in that “sweet spot”, you should see an increase in your accuracy. Don’t make the mistake of putting the trigger in the crease of your finger, as shown below.

Effects of Incorrect Finger Placements
You want to place the trigger shoe between the end of your finger and the first joint. If you place the trigger on the very tip of you finger you’ll tend to push the rear of the rifle to the left when engaging the trigger, causing shots to go right (for a right-handed shooter). On the other hand, if you put the trigger in the crease (first joint), you’ll tend to bring the rear of the rifle to the right, causing shots to fall left. This is illustrated below for a right-handed shooter.

I will have to take issue with all the gunwriters who state emphatically that there is only one way to grip a pistol and trigger finger placement.
I was blessed with very small hands. I cannot grip any centerfire pistol in the manner prescriber by most gunwriters. In addition, when I was very young my trigger finger was accidentally smashed and was never reset properly. As a result, the finger points to the left of straight and is a bit shorter than the other index finger.
I have been shooting pistols of all descriptions longer than most people have been alive. I learned,through experimentation, how to overcome my handicap and become an above average shooter with pistols and long guns.
Experimantation is the key along with lots of practice.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot become a very good shot no matter how you are forced to place your trigger finger or grip the pistol. You can.
Instructing the average person on the proper way to grip a pistol is sound practice but not all of us are average.
Consistency is the key to good shooting. Do things the same way every time. And always remember,practice,practice and more practice along with experimentation with grips,shooting stances,etc. will lead to excellence.
Good shooting!!!

Thanks Kristen. These are tried and true techniques and with all the garbage on the web, new and sometimes not so new shooters can benefit from the advice of accomplished shooters. We use these same techniques in Highpower and they work. Sometimes people who are built differently have to adapt. That doesn’t make these techniques wrong. Sorry Gary.